Pandemic dims lights on Thailand's $5bn nightlife sector

Government plans aid for bars and restaurants, but recovery prospects uncertain

MARIMI KISHIMOTO, Nikkei staff writer

 

The coronavirus has brought Bangkok's world-famous nightlife to a pause.  (Photo by Akira Kodaka) 

 

BANGKOK -- These are hard times for Thailand's vaunted nightlife industry.

 

Nightclubs and bars, which contribute more than $5.5 billion a year to the overall economy, are the country's hidden "dollar box." But regulations that went into effect in late March to halt the spread of the new coronavirus are delivering a body blow to establishments, with cries of despair increasingly heard from proprietors.

 

"The coronavirus is going to kill the bar business," said Nutthapon, a 37-year-old manager of one establishment in Bangkok. From March 22, restaurants in the city's greater metropolitan area were banned from offering anything other than takeout or delivery services. The edict was expanded on March 26 to include the entire country.

 

"I need to pay rent and my employees' salaries," said Nutthapon. "Right now, I'm getting by through breaking into my savings. But I don't know if I can survive for two more months."

 

Full story: https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Pandemic-dims-lights-on-Thailand-s-5bn-nightlife-sector

 

-- © Copyright Nikkei Asian Review 2020-04-24

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

I guess the government is between a rock and a hard place, allow opening and risk more infections don"t allow it, more people out of work and revenue continuing to decline.

They have to reopen soon. Suicides from no income are mounting.

The fight of the fittest.

Well run establishments with savings, will survive. Bars with less number of regular customers (often due to lack of quality hostesses), will go down. They had it coming any way. Old fat hostesses who play with their phones, doesn't attract customers.

Less than half might survive if this last 6 months. Remains will be bought by big brother chinese, and lots of new hostesses ????

 

These land-based cruise ships will be the last thing to open here. 

 

Time for the ladies and lads to get used to working on their feet.

Out of interest, what are all the women doing now? Gone back to the farm or started working online? (...asking for a friend...)

1 minute ago, jadee said:

Out of interest, what are all the women doing now? Gone back to the farm or started working online? (...asking for a friend...)

Takeaways

As said survival of the fittest .

 

There is definitely going to be less completion for the ones than can survive so maybe the service will improve.

 

Lets hope.

34 minutes ago, jadee said:

Out of interest, what are all the women doing now? Gone back to the farm or started working online? (...asking for a friend...)

Gone back to sticky rice land, so Im told

8 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

These land-based cruise ships will be the last thing to open here. 

 

Time for the ladies and lads to get used to working on their feet.

And here,s me thinking most of their work was done on their backs.........

1 hour ago, BigBadGeordie said:

I don't understand why you post links that are behind a paywall?

Use 'Brave browser blocks all the BS

8 minutes ago, petermik said:

And here,s me thinking most of their work was done on their backs.........

And bending over

1 hour ago, webfact said:

Nightclubs and bars, which contribute more than $5.5 billion a year to the overall economy

interesting to see this number. 

 

but it does not include the girls fee. so think how much they are making. 

8 minutes ago, Sharp said:

Use 'Brave browser blocks all the BS

I saved that not used it yet whats the advantages of it?

1 minute ago, ChipButty said:

I saved that not used it yet whats the advantages of it?

look at their website. 

I have a new concept for a bar Im planning to Open.  Any comments welcome.

The bar business was already declining here, and has been for the past 10 years. This will be the nail on the coffin for many, that were just holding on. Hopefully a good many will survive, and no doubt we will see alot of new ones over time. Perhaps the insane bar fines will drop! Bangkok was getting out of control. Maybe we can refer to this as a PMC (positive market correction).

7 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

The bar business was already declining here, and has been for the past 10 years. This will be the nail on the coffin for many, that were just holding on. Hopefully a good many will survive, and no doubt we will see alot of new ones over time. Perhaps the insane bar fines will drop! Bangkok was getting out of control. Maybe we can refer to this as a PMC (positive market correction).

In all probability prices will increase to make up for their shortfalls.....thai logic

Restaurants only allowed to give "take out food" to stop social gatherings ?  but Street markets here in East pattaya allowed to trade  with  hundreds of customers daily, many without masks a haven to any virus..

2 hours ago, OnTheGround said:

The fight of the fittest.

Well run establishments with savings, will survive. Bars with less number of regular customers (often due to lack of quality hostesses), will go down. They had it coming any way. Old fat hostesses who play with their phones, doesn't attract customers.

Less than half might survive if this last 6 months. Remains will be bought by big brother chinese, and lots of new hostesses ????

 

But will they get it, or will they just go back to opening a bar, next to a bar that is next to another bar that is across the soi from many other bars.

39 minutes ago, Jimbo2014 said:

I have a new concept for a bar Im planning to Open.  Any comments welcome.

Can you fill the canisters on the masks with Chang?

1 hour ago, jadee said:

Out of interest, what are all the women doing now? Gone back to the farm or started working online? (...asking for a friend...)

My favorite massage woman is far away back in the village, catching fish and eating mangos.

It´s great like it is. They can concentrate on creating more regular work for the people who lost it instead.

57 minutes ago, Jimbo2014 said:

I have a new concept for a bar Im planning to Open.  Any comments welcome.

Can they wear badges with their name on it?

I for one do not want any embarrassing encounters with ladyboys when we eventually head to the decontamination room.  

It's going to be interesting to see  if and when things go back  to normal if ever ! I guess you will see farangs buying bars and thinking they will make a fortune again only time will tell

10 minutes ago, Matzzon said:

It´s great like it is. They can concentrate on creating more regular work for the people who lost it instead.

Such as?

 

Who is going to create work for a 40 year old brass that does groups of Indians to feed their family in Isaan?

 

The only things that 'create jobs' in this country are the bureaucracy and foreign investment.

5 minutes ago, Yadon Toploy said:

The only things that 'create jobs' in this country are the bureaucracy and foreign investment.

????

3 hours ago, webfact said:

The coronavirus is going to kill the bar business

The global financial crisis killed the Bangkok bar scene in 2008, most of the expats with decent jobs left and it has been on a slow decline ever since.

 

All that survived were the boiler room bars on Sukhumvit built with stolen UK and Aussie pensioners' money.

 

All the pockets of beer bars have closed, and now it has lost the character and edge that Bangkok so exciting. 

 

Washington Square, Queen's Park Plaza, Soi 10, Asok Plaza, Soi 22 Plaza, Soi Zero, Impressionists' Row, Clinton Plaza, Soi 7 etc. All gone. 

 

Cowboy turned from a sexpat enclave into a neon tourist eyesore. Nana died a death when they refurbished it, Soi Nana looks like it is on its last legs and rigor mortis set in to Patpong long ago. Only a few bars in Patpong 2 worth going to nowadays.

Edited April 24, 20206 yr by Yadon Toploy

3 minutes ago, Matzzon said:

????

And on to my ignore list you go.

Just can't feel sorry for them. Those owners have been ripping off tourist for years 100 to 300 percent markup on prices for beer, etc. They all were greedy and now they want sympathy.  Most of them weren't legal anyway.